APPLYING TO UNIVERSITY: A GUIDE FOR PARENTS

September 2015 or 2016 entry

Is university the right path for your child? How do people apply to university? How does Rooks Heath College help students? How can you, as a parent, help your child?

The College bid a fond farewell to Year 13 on 4th June with our annual summer boat trip down the Thames. The weather was perfect as we floated up the river with the sun setting on the water. A big thank you to Mrs Shepard for organising the event; a splendid time was had by all.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Student choices after A Levels……

University Gap Year Employment Apprenticeships Part-time courses Re-sits

Why University?

• Career opportunities

• Potential earnings

• Passion for learning

• Once in a lifetime opportunity

• Independence – development of social skills

• Becoming the norm

• Fun!

Are there jobs for graduates?

Competition is fierce: It is now becoming the norm for a degree to be a minimum educational requirement for many occupations.

For many employers, quality of degree (First and Upper Second) is more important than course followed.

But many graduate employers want to see evidence of skills and competencies in addition to the degree.

So need to provide evidence of work experience and extra-curricular activities.

Universities provide links to employers – Milkrounds, work placements, websites (www.prospects.ac.uk)

Financial payback-is it worth getting a degree?

YES or NO? UK university

graduates between 30 and 44 earn 77% more than those without.

Average starting salary for graduate vacancies is higher.

Trends in the Graduate Employment Market

Media and teaching are the most popular destinations.

Investment banking, marketing and accounting are next most popular job sectors.

70% of all advertised vacancies were open to graduates from any degree discipline.

Employers value the “soft” transferable skills over subject knowledge.

However, engineering and technology require specific subject knowledge.

The top 12 degree subjects for getting a job: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/universityeducation/10146038/Graduate-jobs-top-12-degree-subjects-for-getting-a-job.html#? frame=2605849

1. Medicine & Dentistry2. Education3. Veterinary Science4. Subjects allied to medicine e.g. biomedical science or neurology5. Law6. Biological Science7. Mathematics8. Languages9. Engineering10. History/Philosophy11. Architecture12. Business and/or Administration

Beware: Statistics are not always what they seem - restricted places to study medicine, dentistry, education and veterinary science- stressful jobs with a high turn over of staff

How much does university cost?

There are two main costs:

1. Annual course/tuition fee.

2. Living costs.

1. Tuition Fees

They depend on what and where a student studies Universities and colleges can charge up to £9,000 a year

(£8,354 is the current student average) No UPFRONT costs – students never see this money Advised to see it as a graduate tax rather than a loan

which students start paying back when they are working Don’t forget that some courses have extra expenses too,

such as costumes for drama, protective wear for engineering or archaeology, or travel for languages or hospitality courses

How do I pay the fees?Tuition Fee Loan

Available to all eligible students Not subject to household income Loan available to match tuition fee charged Paid direct to institution on behalf of student Not compulsory Check website for more details:

www.direct.gov.uk/en/educationandlearning/universityandhighereducation/studentfinance

2. Living costs-how do I pay for these?

Covers accommodation, food, travel and course resources

Will vary on where students study

Full-time students can apply for a maintenance loan which is calculated on household incomehttps://www.gov.uk/apply-for-student-finance/household-income

Paid directly to student Currently paid in three

instalments Students have to pay the

loan back

https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/loans-and-grants

Household income

How will students repay these loans?

Graduates pay back loans when they finish the course and start earning over £21,000

Loan is scrapped after 30 years if they never earn over £21,000

Loan Repayments

Salary Amount of salary from which 9% will be deducted

Monthly repayments

£25,000 £4,000 £30.00

£30,000 £9,000 £67.00

£35,000 £14,000 £105.00

£40,000 £19,000 £142.00

£45,000 £24,000 £180.00

Other financial support available

Maintenance grant-do not have to be paid back

They are means tested and available to help with living costs.

National Scholarship Programmes

£1000 grant for lower income families (less than £25,000) but may be stopping from Sept 2015

Bursaries and Hardship Funds from individual universities

https://www.gov.uk/student-finance/loans-and-grants

How much does university cost?The two main costs:

1. Annual tuition fee.

3 years at £9,000

£27,000 (at current levels, remember not all universities charge or are allowed to charge the full amount)

2. Living costs.

3 years at £7,751

£23,253(at current levels)

Total debt = £50,253 minus maintenance grant and any other income (parents, work) plus extra living costs. All universities have information on their websites about estimated living costs.

How do students choose a University?

Entrance requirements A2 grades or UCAS points

Course structure – teaching styles vary Facilities Home or away? – how far away? Cost of living: London or not (on average £3,000

per year more expensive) Campus / non campus Social life

University reputations

Most employers are influenced by which university a graduate attended.

The most modest universities may have a centre of specialist excellence, and even famous universities have mediocre departments.

Students need to research!

The Guardian’s Good University Guide

How to apply to university

All University applications are made through a system known as UCAS: University & Colleges Application System

UCAS APPLY ON-LINE APPLICATION

All university applications are made via the on-line application system - APPLY

One UCAS application form, FIVE choices, £23 fee One personal statement written by the student One UCAS reference written by the college Applicants cannot indicate a course preference Invisibility of choices Follow college instructions for checking and

submitting form – lots of pastoral support

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Two deadlines for applications: 15th October for applications to Oxford and Cambridge Universities and all medicine, dentistry and veterinary science courses.15th January for everything else apart for Art and Design courses who have their own application process.

UCAS sends copies of the form to each of the five choices for equal consideration.

Sept – March: Interviews & Open Days (attendance to which can be a requirement for an offer to be made)

Sept – May: Offers (both Conditional and Unconditional) and/or Rejections

6th May: Final Decisions Time (students have to nominate 1 Firm and 1 Insurance)

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

UCAS Extra March – June for students without any offers

Results and Confirmation of place Mid August

Clearing Mid August – SeptemberAdjustment Mid August for 5 days Students can check the progress of their

application using the on-line ‘Track’ facility

BMAT/UKCAT/LNAT

BE AWARE! External Entrance Exams for students applying for

Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science or Law at participating universities

Students are responsible for arranging their own exam entry MUST CHECK CLOSING DATES & these need to be added on their application form

Use these websites for more details www.bmat.org.uk www.lnat.ac.uk www.ukcat.org.uk

HOW TO GET THAT PLACE:What are students being told?

RESEARCH,RESEARCH,RESEARCH!Given time in tutorials and enrichment week

Course content varies between universities – no common specification Check entry qualifications – any specific GCSE/A Level

subjects/grades/tariff points plus and any other requirements e.g. work experience

Find out if and what work experience is necessary (medicine, teaching, NHS supported degrees, social work, journalism, law). It is asked for by universities for 2 main reasons:

1. To demonstrate commitment to career choice2. So the university is sure that the applicant is going into this career

path with their eyes open.

Research University Scholarships & Bursaries – find out what’s on offer

Produce a high quality Personal Statement Co-operate with your tutors – they are a very important aspect of your

application Universities love early applications

HOW ELSE DOES THE COLLEGE SUPPORT STUDENT APPLICATIONS?

Specialist help for those wanting to apply for Oxford & Cambridge and Medicine, Dentistry & Veterinary Science including help with interview technique and entrance exams

A trip to Southampton University Open Day in September

Gifted and Talented trip to Oxford University Tutorial programme – most of the Autumn term in

Year 13 devoted to university applications, time and support to perfect personal statements

Time off to go to Open Days-only 2 though! Meeting with Mrs Todd or Mr Wright to check all

aspects of the UCAS application

How can parents/carers help?

Download this presentation from the college website (in the Sixth Form area)

Ideas and help for parents/carers at http://www.ucas.com/how-it-all-works/parents-and-guardians

Encourage and support them to attend University Open Days Encourage and support them in completing relevant work experience Help them check course details and entry requirements on www.ucas.com

Show interest and support (read up about universities by referring to good university guides produced by The Times, The Guardian)

Proof read their Personal Statements but please do not write it for them – many admissions tutors say this is the easiest thing to spot.

Encourage them to work hard for exams Encourage them to seek advice from College (specifically Disha

Dansingami) if having difficulty in finding a suitable course Encourage them to complete the UCAS application form ASAP

If I can help you….

adam@rooksheath.harrow.sch.uk

0208 872 8919

Thank you for listening...Any questions?

Useful websites Costs of studying at university:

http://www.nus.org.uk/en/advice/money-and-funding/average-costs-of-living-and-study/

Student Finance:https://www.gov.uk/student-finance

University and course finder:http://www.ucas.com/

Good University Guides:http://www.theguardian.com/education/universityguidehttp://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/

Online help and advice:http://sacu-student.com/?page_id=203

Course finder for students who don’t know what they want to do:https://production001-demandanalysis.db.em1.oraclecloudapps.com/apex/f?p=SACU_BROWSE:301:0:&tz=1:00